New Rock Release Reviews - May 2016
There have been a lot of varied opinions about Weezer's last several albums. I for one have always been a fan and have been able to enjoy every album from start to finish except their previous Everything Will Be Alright in the End. The white album I think has a little bit of old and new Weezer style. It has an overall pop feel, but there are some deeper themes and lyrics than a typical pop rock record. Each listen reveals another favorite line or hidden nugget.
Highlights include: King of the World, Wind in Our Sail, Summer Elaine and Drunk Dori
This is another band that has had its critics, but the debut album set fire to the metal community and this sophomore effort has established that Babymetal are for real. The musicianship is superb and, as an album, it rocks even harder than the self-titled. We still have J-pop style lead and background vocals, but there is some more melodic singing on songs such as Karate. Awadama Fever sounds like it could be a Slipknot song except for the teen girl voice of "Su-metal" singing over it. It is unconventional, but this juxtaposition works for me. Give it a shot.
Deftones refuse to conform to anybody's idea of what they should sound like except their own. Their experimentation has cost them fans along the way and certainly more notoriety. Gore sounds like a return to form, IMO, in the best possible way. Without repeating their nu-metal or ambient sounds on previous works, they seem to blend them together nicely while still being hard rock enough for me to listen to this album all the way through. They're back!
Highlights include: Doomed User, Pittur Infamante, Prayers/Triangles, Gore
On one hand, it's got what you'd expect from Rob. There's lots of sound samples and interludes. There's the industrial heaviness. There's the offbeat, unconventional song titles and subject areas. On the other hand, I think this album builds off of what Hellbilly Deluxe 2 and Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor did in terms of having a unique identity and coming together as a complete album.
Highlights include: Medication for the Melancholy (Fast, driving beat and metal riffs), Well, Everybody's Fucking in a U.F.O. (a headbanger with a party vibe)
Following up All I Was and Cauterize, Tremonti continues to impress with his ability to sing as well has crank out the rock riffs. This guy is establishing himself as one of the most talented and maybe most important guitarists of our time. While writing and touring extensively for his solo work and then reportedly creating a new album with Alter Bridge, I wonder how Tremonti has enough time to kick as much ass as he does.
Highlights include: The Cage, Betray Me, Catching Fire
Filter is one of the most underrated rock bands, hands down. If the last song of theirs you remember is Take a Picture, I encourage you to delve into their catalogue. This album is a concerted effort to return to Richard Patrick's industrial roots from his NIN days. Album opener, Mother E, takes you on a journey through the mind of a tortured soul with scream-along lyrics and a beat that if you don't bang your head to when you hear it, we probably can't be friends. Pride Flag is a faster paced anthem with rocking guitar work. The bass lines and the solo work here are impressive and heart-pumping. Your Bullets is a fun one to bounce and sing to. These songs will be great additions to the live set!
